Tarion Warranty Explained for East Toronto Homeowners | What’s Covered (and What Isn’t)

Design-Build insights

September 13, 2025

tarion_warranty image

🏠 Tarion Warranty in Plain English (for East Toronto Homes)

If you’re buying or building a new home in Ontario, the warranty that matters is Tarion—administered under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act. It provides deposit protection, delayed-closing/occupancy compensation, and post-possession defect coverage for up to 7 years (Tarion overview).

Quick reality check for renovators in Leslieville/Beaches/Riverdale: typical home renovations are not covered by Tarion. Tarion protects new homes; “renovated/previously-occupied” homes generally fall outside, unless the project meets the legal definition of a new home (rare in standard renos) (Tarion FAQs).

🧭 What Tarion Is (and who is covered)

💰 Pre-Closing Protections (Before You Get the Keys)

🧩 Post-Possession Coverage: 1-, 2-, and 7-Year

1-Year Warranty

  • Fit for habitation

  • Built to Ontario Building Code

  • Free from defects in materials/workmanship

  • No unauthorized substitutions
    (Tarion 1-Year Coverage)

2-Year Warranty

  • Water penetration (envelope/foundation)

  • Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC delivery systems

  • Exterior cladding defects

  • Building Code violations affecting health/safety
    (Tarion 2-Year Coverage)

7-Year Major Structural Defect (MSD)

  • Failures of load-bearing elements

  • Defects significantly impairing the home’s use as a residence
    (Tarion 7-Year Coverage)

🛠️ Claims & Builder Repair Period

  • File warranty claims via Tarion MyHome.

  • Submitting a statutory warranty form starts a 120-day builder repair period (MSD claims differ).

🚫 What Tarion Doesn’t Cover

  • Most renovations to existing, previously-occupied homes.

  • Normal wear and tear.

  • Damage caused by homeowners.

  • Items homeowners supplied themselves.
    (Tarion exclusions)

🧱 East-End Angle: When Tarion Matters (and when it doesn’t)

  • New custom homes & full rebuilds (e.g., teardown/new build in the Beaches): Tarion applies if built by a licensed vendor and properly enrolled.

  • Typical renos/additions/underpinning on century semis in Leslieville or Riverdale: Tarion generally doesn’t apply. Your protection comes from your contract, permits/inspections, and the contractor’s transparency and systems.

🔧 How Woodsmith Uses This (Clarity for Clients)

  • If it’s a new home: we walk clients through enrolment, PDI, forms, timelines, and warranty paperwork.

  • If it’s a renovation: we set expectations that Tarion doesn’t apply. Instead, we protect you with clear scopes, permit compliance, and open-book cost-plus.

  • Want to see how we earned this? Read our post on becoming a Tarion-certified builder to learn why we pursued certification and what it means for East Toronto homeowners.

👉 Explore our Design-Build Services and Construction Services. Ready to renovate smarter? Contact us.

📚 Helpful Official Links

Related articles

🏠 Renovation Planning in East Toronto

Why spending more time in design saves money in build Older East-End houses (Victorian/Edwardian semis, narrow lots, shared walls) reward...

🏠 Fixed-Price vs. Cost-Plus Renovation Contracts in East Toronto

🏠 Fixed-Price vs. Cost-Plus Homeowners across **Toronto’s East End—Leslieville, Beaches, Riverdale, Danforth Village, and the Upper Beaches—**face unique challenges when...

🏡 Second-Storey Additions in East Toronto: A Complete Guide

🏠 Why Build Up Instead of Moving? East Toronto neighbourhoods like East York, Danforth Village, and Scarborough Junction are full...

🏡 Building a Laneway Suite (ADU) in Toronto: What Homeowners Need to Know

🌟 What is a Laneway Suite? A laneway suite, also known as an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), is a self-contained...

Our Clients' Experiences Say It All

At Woodsmith Construction, we believe our clients’ experiences highlight our commitment to exceptional customer service. Explore what real homeowners say about partnering with us to achieve their home renovation goals.

Woodsmith Icon
Rev 1
Rev 2
Rev 3
Rev 4